Loading
If you’ve ever read Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy, then you’re likely familiar with the concept of Psychohistory. Psychohistory suggests that over long periods, civilizations face recurring crises. These crises have the potential to either make or break a society, depending on how they are handled. If mismanaged, they can fracture empires into smaller states or territories ruled by warlords. On the other hand, if navigated successfully, these crises can strengthen a civilization.
A key idea in psychohistory is that it is possible to predict such crises. If one can foresee the problems on the horizon, solutions can be devised to help society overcome them.
Recent Crises In The United States
In recent years, the United States has experienced two significant crises. The first was the COVID-19 pandemic, and the second was the Trump administration.
COVID-19 had the potential to devastate the nation. The lethality, infection rates, and even the virus’s origins remain debated. What isn’t up for debate is that if the situation had been mishandled, millions of Americans could have died. During this crisis, there was widespread looting, protests, and a tremendous amount of distrust. However, the federal government responded with measures such as stimulus checks and rent freezes across the country, which, though extreme, were effective. A vaccine was developed, and slowly, the U.S. emerged from the crisis.
The second crisis was the Trump administration. Whether or not you support Trump, his time in office divided the country and fueled deep antagonism between opposing groups. He also encouraged a coup attempt against the U.S. government, a massive crisis for American democracy. Some argue that this period brought the country to the brink of civil war. However, it seems this crisis has passed, with Trump losing influence, and many of his supporters now disengaged.
UPCOMING CRISES: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Two significant crises loom on the horizon. The first involves artificial intelligence (AI), which will disrupt labor markets and necessitate new solutions. If handled properly, AI could strengthen society by offering solutions to existing problems and improving lives globally, potentially leading to a techno-utopia. However, if the wealthy elite refuse to share the wealth generated by AI, social unrest could arise. As housing prices remain high—partly due to tax codes that don’t penalize large landowners for leaving properties vacant—the homeless population could grow significantly.
Homelessness is already a crisis, though not yet on a societal scale. It is more of a symptom of deeper issues. I believe the level of homelessness reflects the compassion of a society. A society that shares its wealth and cares about the happiness of others is more likely to prosper. In contrast, a society where the wealthy refuse to share their resources is in trouble.
Artificial intelligence will likely exacerbate societal issues in the United States. Culturally, Americans have become accustomed to not sharing. Some wealthy Boomers’ children are homeless because their parents simply refused to share. The Boomer generation fought for the right to accumulate wealth and not compete with younger generations. With AI expected to compress the labor market, the anger toward the older generations and the laws that protect their wealth is likely to explode.
We are approaching a crisis, and the question is: How will we deal with it? If we choose to address it wisely and share the wealth, we could emerge from this crisis into a techno-utopia, with innovations such as 3D-printed homes, automated farms, and medicines beyond our current imagination. A better world is possible, but the choice to create it lies with us.
The Crisis Of Robotics
The second crisis, expected around 2040, involves humanoid robotics. While AI will advance significantly in the next five years, humanoid robots are still in their infancy. For this to become a major crisis, robots must become affordable enough to replace human labor. Until then, it remains a potential future crisis.
If we learn to cultivate a compassionate and sharing society, both the AI and robotics crises could pass without major harm. In fact, if we deal with the upcoming AI crisis with love and cooperation, the robotics crisis may not even materialize. Instead, it could be a step toward the techno-utopia we have the potential to create.
In the end, everything is a matter of choice. Nothing is predetermined. All things can change. We are not doomed, and there is always hope.
submitted by /u/I-am-ALIVE–
[link] [comments]